Waioli Mission District
Encyclopedia
The Waioli Mission District at Hanalei Bay
, on Route 560
along the north shore of the island of Kauai
, is the site of a historic mission. The first permanent missionaries to the area arrived in 1834, and the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973.
.
In 1824, after the royal yacht Haʻaheo o Hawaiʻi
("Pride of Hawaii) ran aground in the bay, a crowd gathered for an attempt at salvage. Reverend Hiram Bingham
took the opportunity to preach a sermon.
Around 1832, a thatched hut was built in this area for the missionaries to Hawaii from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
who would visit from other missions in the Hawaiian islands
, such as the one at Waimea, Kauai
. Early supporters were island governor Kaikioewa and Queen Dowager Deborah Kapule. The first permanent pastor was Reverend William Patterson Alexander
(1805–1884), with his wife Mary Ann McKinney Alexander (1810–1888) who arrived in 1834. By then the original temporary structure had to be rebuilt. Alexander also started building a wood framed house about 1835. Their son Samuel Thomas Alexander
was born here.
After the second thatched church blew down in an 1837 storm, a frame building was begun and finished in 1841.
The new church was a single rectangular structure 35 feet (10.7 m) by 70 feet (21.3 m).
Alexander also expanded his house for his growing family.
While most mission houses are built in the New England style (including the interiors), this house shows influence of the Southern States. This is attributed to Alexander being born in Paris, Kentucky
. Edward Johnson and his wife Lois Hoyt Johnson arrived in 1837 and opened a school. In 1843 George Berkeley Rowell (1815–1884) and his wife Malvina Chapin Rowell (1816–1893) arrived and the Alexanders moved to Lahainaluna School. Abner Wilcox
(1808–1869) and Lucy Eliza Hart Wilcox (1814–1869) arrived in 1847 as teachers after the Rowells moved to Waimea. Johnson became pastor of the church.
By the end of the 1840s, the American Board removed funding for the missions and formed a Hawaiian Evangelical Association which tried to raise funds with small farms at each site. After the Great Mahele
the Wilcox family obtained fee simple
title to the property. The mission school became the Hanalei Public School. Abner and Lucy Wilcox both died while visiting relatives in Colebrook, Connecticut
, in August 1869. Albert Spencer Wilcox
lived in the house until 1877.
In 1912 the current church building was built with donations from Sam, George
, and Albert Wilcox (sons of the misionary couple who were born at the station). The old 1841 church was used as the Mission Hall. The old mission bell was used in the belfry.
In 1921 Wilcox descendants funded architect Hart Wood
to restore the Mission House and the Mission Hall. By 1945 it merged with the Anini Church and the Haena Church to become the Huiia Church.
Some of Abner Wilcox's library can still be seen in his study. In 1957 the Congregational Church
organization became the United Church of Christ
. Hui ia means "united" in the Hawaiian language.
The district includes 17 acres (6.9 ha) with the 1836 mission house, two caretaker cottages, and a garage, in addition to the 1841 Hall and 1912 Church. The house now is a small private museum.
Hanalei Bay
Hanalei Bay is the largest bay on the north shore of Kauai island in Hawaii. The town of Hanalei is at the mid-point of the bay.Hanalei Bay consists of nearly two miles of beach, surrounded by mountains. In the summer, the bay offers excellent mooring for sailboats, stand up paddle boarding and...
, on Route 560
Hawaii Route 560
Route 560 or Kaua'i Belt Road-North Shore section, is a ten-mile scenic road on the northern shore of the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The entire belt road is signed as the Kuhio Highway and Hawaii Route 56 was once signed on this route before it was downgraded to become Hawaii Route 560...
along the north shore of the island of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
, is the site of a historic mission. The first permanent missionaries to the area arrived in 1834, and the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973.
Description
Wai oli means "joyful water" or "singing river" in the Hawaiian languageHawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
.
In 1824, after the royal yacht Haʻaheo o Hawaiʻi
Cleopatra's Barge
Cleopatra's Barge was an opulent yacht built in Massachusetts in 1816. It became the Royal Yacht of King Kamehameha II who named it Haaheo o Hawaii , but was wrecked in the Hawaiian Islands in 1824.-Building:...
("Pride of Hawaii) ran aground in the bay, a crowd gathered for an attempt at salvage. Reverend Hiram Bingham
Hiram Bingham I
Hiram Bingham, formally Hiram Bingham I , was leader of the first group of Protestant missionaries to introduce Christianity to the Hawaiian islands.-Life:...
took the opportunity to preach a sermon.
Around 1832, a thatched hut was built in this area for the missionaries to Hawaii from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
who would visit from other missions in the Hawaiian islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
, such as the one at Waimea, Kauai
Waimea, Kauai County, Hawaii
Waimea is a census-designated place in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 1,787 at the 2000 census...
. Early supporters were island governor Kaikioewa and Queen Dowager Deborah Kapule. The first permanent pastor was Reverend William Patterson Alexander
William Patterson Alexander
William Patterson Alexander was an American missionary to the Kingdom of Hawaii. His family continued to influence the history of Hawaii.-Life:...
(1805–1884), with his wife Mary Ann McKinney Alexander (1810–1888) who arrived in 1834. By then the original temporary structure had to be rebuilt. Alexander also started building a wood framed house about 1835. Their son Samuel Thomas Alexander
Samuel Thomas Alexander
Samuel Thomas Alexander co-founded a major agricultural and transportation business in the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Early life:In November 1831, the Reverend William Patterson Alexander and Mary Ann McKinney Alexander arrived in April 1832 as missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands...
was born here.
After the second thatched church blew down in an 1837 storm, a frame building was begun and finished in 1841.
The new church was a single rectangular structure 35 feet (10.7 m) by 70 feet (21.3 m).
Alexander also expanded his house for his growing family.
While most mission houses are built in the New England style (including the interiors), this house shows influence of the Southern States. This is attributed to Alexander being born in Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
. Edward Johnson and his wife Lois Hoyt Johnson arrived in 1837 and opened a school. In 1843 George Berkeley Rowell (1815–1884) and his wife Malvina Chapin Rowell (1816–1893) arrived and the Alexanders moved to Lahainaluna School. Abner Wilcox
Abner Wilcox
Abner Wilcox was a missionary teacher from New England to the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Abner Wilcox was born April 19, 1808 in Harwinton, Connecticut. His father was Aaron Wilcox and mother was Lois Phelps. He was fourth of nine children.On November 23, 1836 he married Lucy Eliza Hart who was born...
(1808–1869) and Lucy Eliza Hart Wilcox (1814–1869) arrived in 1847 as teachers after the Rowells moved to Waimea. Johnson became pastor of the church.
By the end of the 1840s, the American Board removed funding for the missions and formed a Hawaiian Evangelical Association which tried to raise funds with small farms at each site. After the Great Mahele
Great Mahele
The Great Mahele or just the Mahele was the Hawaiian land redistribution act proposed by King Kamehameha III in the 1830s and enacted in 1848.-Overview:...
the Wilcox family obtained fee simple
Fee simple
In English law, a fee simple is an estate in land, a form of freehold ownership. It is the most common way that real estate is owned in common law countries, and is ordinarily the most complete ownership interest that can be had in real property short of allodial title, which is often reserved...
title to the property. The mission school became the Hanalei Public School. Abner and Lucy Wilcox both died while visiting relatives in Colebrook, Connecticut
Colebrook, Connecticut
Colebrook is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,471 at the 2000 census. Colebrook was named after Colebrooke, in the English county of Devon.-Geography:...
, in August 1869. Albert Spencer Wilcox
Albert Spencer Wilcox
Albert Spencer Wilcox was a businessman and politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii and Republic of Hawaii. He developed several sugar plantations in Hawaii, and became a large landholder.-Early life:...
lived in the house until 1877.
In 1912 the current church building was built with donations from Sam, George
George Norton Wilcox
George Norton Wilcox was a businessman and politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii and Territory of Hawaii.-Life:George Norton Wilcox was born in Hilo August 15, 1839.His father was Abner Wilcox and mother was Lucy Eliza Hart...
, and Albert Wilcox (sons of the misionary couple who were born at the station). The old 1841 church was used as the Mission Hall. The old mission bell was used in the belfry.
In 1921 Wilcox descendants funded architect Hart Wood
Hart Wood
Hart Wood was an American architect who flourished during the "Golden Age" of Hawaiian architecture. He was one of the principal proponents of a distinctive "Hawaiian style" of architecture appropriate to the local environment and reflective of the cultural heritage of the islands...
to restore the Mission House and the Mission Hall. By 1945 it merged with the Anini Church and the Haena Church to become the Huiia Church.
Some of Abner Wilcox's library can still be seen in his study. In 1957 the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
organization became the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
. Hui ia means "united" in the Hawaiian language.
The district includes 17 acres (6.9 ha) with the 1836 mission house, two caretaker cottages, and a garage, in addition to the 1841 Hall and 1912 Church. The house now is a small private museum.